The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-13

seems comparatively happy So deliberate.
and am lost tear off portion of the news
paper which contains that item, and throw it
upon the glowing Goals OF the CRATE. It flames
up. and calmly warm my hands by the blaze;
but feel like ghoul
Kiz is radiantly happy. She is putting the
finishing touches to the goddess. Itsatisfes her
nothing else that she has painted ever has.
She has never had sscold fit" over this picture.
She no longer sees anything ridiculous in an at
tempt to transform Miss McGlenen into the god
dess Pomona / am devoured by curiosity to be-
hold the result, but am not allowed Kiz says
she wishes to see the effect upon me Of the fin
ished picture.
Miss McGlenenist to see it to-day and confess
tremble for its effect upon her. If it is ridicu-
lous-and am unable to see how it can help be-
ing-she is, with all her little lunacies. sane
enough to see it, feel sure. But my forebod-
ings are needless. She is enraptured with the
picture; she finds it perfection to the smallest
detail: it is one Of the greatest qualifications OF
her life. She confdes to me that she has one
relative for whom she feels slight trace of fam
lily affection and she means to leave him, in her
will, this picture memento.
sit will look well in a family portrait gallery
she says, with little gratified mods that make her
ringets fly. land it will hand the artists
name down to posterity! have made her put
her name and address upon it. She is too mod
est-altogether too modest. But she has a
charming nature; she is really artistic"
And then, in the lowest Of whispers, if the
walls might have ears. Miss McGlenen confdes
to me secret: she means to leave her money
snug little fortune-to Kiz.
"There is nobody who has any claim me,
and why should not2' she demands, as if were
objecting. 81 had meant to devote it to the
cause of woman, but as there is not a great deal
of it perhaps it may as we'll go to one woman.
There great many fools who have their
fingers In the woman's rights pie, and I've taken
fancy to Kiz, and should like to know who
has right to crafty her fancies il lone old
woman like me hasn'ta'
Her tone is argumentative as IL she were
trying to convince an objector. The objector is
certainly not l. only timely recollection that
the old ladys decease must occur before the
realization of this good fortune for Kiz, and
therefore manifestations OF joy would be I'M
seemly, enables me to preserve a calm demeanor.
II shall attend to it at once!" she goes on.
cit never does to delay about those things.
And have a touch of heart disease about me.
although you might not think it. and anybody
who saw me as the Goddess Pomona would
| think the picture Of health. That is be-
| cause our dear little friend is too artistic to
| paint disease or old age. But may go off any
| day. Death, unfortunately, is not artistic. and
| can't be depended upon to wait until proper
time; I shan't delay to have
my will attended tor Aud off
| of little mods My regard for Godmother Pomo-
ma is of the highest, and l certainly hope she
may live until she feels it would be artistic of
| death to take her, but lam overioyed that when
she goes she will leave her money to Kiz l am
mercenary where Kiz is concerned. | have so
dreaded to see her bloom and brightness ground
| out by struggle and drudgery and perhaps fail
| ure and penury at last She may win fortune
by her own efforts but none the less heartily do
| / welcome blessed Saint Certainty.
| Kiz calls me to behold Pomona's unveiled
| charms. The painful struggles Of my .imagna-
| ton are ended, the supreme moment has come.
| adjust my spectacles. and see an ideal head OF
Pomona. 1t is passably good for an artists
off 10 COLL Nv INT 10
| not in the very least like Miss McGlenen.
| Itmidly hazard that assertion.
SWELL" says Kiz. lit has eyes. and nose,
| and mouth and in those respects it resem bles
| her One mustn't ask an artistic impossibility.
| Acceutuating the good points and leaving out
| the bad does make great difference'
''Decidedly."I say, ITO evolve Heen's beauty
! from brow of Egypt becomes simple matter
| the only difficulty is that the Egyptian brow
seems rather left out in the cold"
"Miss McGlenen is quite satisfied" says Kiz.
| with dignity. docs it look at all like-like
somebody you kuowa" she adds, with a wstful
accent
'Not at ALI" reply, promptly. and Kiz heaves
| long sigh. Does she think Ssas because she
| has given the goddess reddish hair and rather
| too large nose that she looks like Perry2 I am
convinced that Kiz is sinking into hopeless
! idiocy.
| Pomona has been packed. and sent to Miss
| McGlenen's country house, whittier she has be-
| taken herself. We hear that she is holding re-
| ceptlOnS expressly TO display tue picture hlZ
has crowds OF visitors most OF them curious and
| seeking for amusement. l am not at all sure
| that the goddess Pomona has been of real benefit
| to Kiz's reputation. But what does it matter
| since Kiz is to be an heiress2 We hear one day
| that Miss McGenen is i'll. l think at of the
| heart disease of which she told me; but kiz sees
her physician and learns that she is only threat
| ened with pneumonia which he hopes to avert.
Three days afterwards. however, we learn that
| she is dangerously ill, and she sends urgent
message to me to come to her. Why she does
not send for Kiz l cannot think. but am sure
| that she has something about the will to confido
to me. In my excitement fling discretion to
the winds and tell Kiz all about it.
| Kiz bursts into tears. She is really fond OF
| Godmother Pomona, and is touched by her kind
ness, well she may be. "But you can't keer
her alive" say, land you may as well be lit
| tie happy that you to be rid of poverty!'
ut seems too heartess," says Kiz. "And, be
| sides, money won't-won't make Perry come
near me! He will stay away all the more, he is
so absurdly proud"
| Godmother Pomona insists upon seeing me-
although the doctors object She looked Ut
brightly, and tries to give me one of her CHEEKY
little mods but tries in vain. know then tina,
inartstic Death has chosen his time.
1--WE changed my mind about the WILL
wanted to tell you" she says, speaking with diff
ficulty. sIt would make her prey to fortune
hunters! 1t would interfere with her career as
an artist! 1t would certainly lead her 20 the
folly of marriage! And there is one of my owr
kin, nephew, who is not altogether fool
have heard that he is ill, and he is poor, and
suppose he has large family and, in short
I've left my property to him! it seems really
more artistic to leave it to ones kin! I've
already sent him the picture"
i am glad that the doctor whisks me uncere
moniously out of the room at this juncture.
feel pity for Godmother Pomona but tho ole
Adam is strong within me, and also feel down
right angy with her. To have this happen afte
have told Kiz! Nobody can be less mereenary
| than she, but 1t is not in human nature not {;
feel disappointed.
She does not seem to feel so. however She
is rainbowv through her tears when tell her
81 didn't want her money! she declares 81
, didn't seem right that should have it. for Their
was no reason why she should give it to me